2 killed, 9 injured in hand grenade explosion - Wellawatta

According to the latest report received said that 2 civilians were killed while another 9 suffered injuries exploding a hand grenade shot while ago in Wellawatta today, May 31.

Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that the explosion took place near a bus halt along the Colombo-Galle main road, opposite the Arpico super market in Wellawatta.

The victims were rushed to the Kalubowila teaching hospital for immediate medical attention.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080531_07

Reggie Ranatunga passes away

Reggie Ranatunga, veteran Sri Lankan politician and father of world cup winning cricket team captain Arjuna Ranatunga, died here on Saturday morning following a pro-longed illness.

Reggie Ranatunga, who was in his seventies, died at a private hospital here. He was ailing for some time.

The septuagenarian leader was sworn in as a parliament member for the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance to fill the seat left vacant by death of fellow parliamentarian Sripathy Sooriyarachchi.

Earlier, he served as the governor of Sabaragamuwa Province in South-western Sri Lanka.

His son Arjuna Ranatunga guided the island's cricket team to a world cup win in 1996 and is currently holding the post of Chairman of Sri Lankan Cricket.

Extracted from,
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1167641

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels turning more violent amid gov't offensive, official says

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels are becoming more violent as they suffer setbacks because of a new government offensive, a top official from the war-torn South Asian nation said Saturday.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said the Tigers have shown no interest in negotiating for permanent peace to end 25 years of separatist violence on the island nation off southern India.

On the contrary, there is a "continuing focus on their part to resort to violence and terrorism" — evident from recent deadly train and bus bombings — Kohona told reporters on the sidelines of a regional security conference in Singapore.

"It looks like they are absolutely committed to terrorism and nothing else. Maybe because in the battlefield they have been pushed back methodically by the government and their only response is to blow up civilians," Kohona said.

Public affairs personnel for the Tamil Tigers were not immediately available for comment.

Read more,
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/31/

Five suicide jackets found; suspect detained - Chilaw

Police acting on an information received from intelligence sources found 5 jackets designed for the LTTE suicide bombers from Maina Doopatha (an islet) in the Chilaw area this evening (May 30). According to the police sources, only four out of the five jackets were filled with high explosives.

Police said the jackets were unearthed from a location close to an abandoned Hindu Temple around 6.30 pm. A person was also detained for further inquiries, the sources added.

LTTE is the terror outfit that pioneered the suicide terrorism and introduced recruitment, brainwashing, and technical expertise for suicide bombing to the terrorist organizations in the world over. It has carried out over 200 suicide attacks killing hundreds of people during its two and half decades of terrorist war against Sri Lankan citizens.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080530_10

Civil Defence Force soldier and two civilians shot dead by Tiger terrorists

A Civil and his fifty (50) year old wife and a Civil Defence Force soldier was shot dead by Tiger terrorists on Friday(30) in the night around 8.45 in RAJANGANE area, Block 18, ANURADHAPURA.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/

LTTE artillery, mortar launching pads bombed: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Friday claimed that its fighter jets have bombed 'artillery and mortar launching platforms' of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Kalmunai point in the northern district of Jaffna.

'Two separate sorties were launched around 12 noon and 1.20 p.m. The targets were accurately hit, but the exact damages to the enemy are yet to be ascertained,' the defence ministry said.

The ministry said, 'The LTTE rebels used the targeted locations to launch artillery attacks on Tamil villages in the peninsula Thursday that killed six civilians including two children and left 20 others wounded.'

The air raids came exactly a day after the pre-dawn sea-borne attack by the Tamil rebels on a naval detachment in an islet in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080530/121824.htm

‘Mihin’ to fly again , Plan to work with SriLankan

The Government’s Budget Carrier Mihin Lanka (Pvt. Ltd.), grounded for nearly two months for want of an aircraft, will commence operations in July with an A-320 aircraft obtained on a dry lease from a French Company. The monthly rent would be US $ 347,000, according to the company’s former CEO Sajin de Vas Gunwardena.

Gunwardena resigned as CEO of Mihin Lanka on Thursday but told a news conference at the BMICH that he would continue to serve as a Director.

Asked to comment on the future of the airline, Gunawardena was not optimistic. "No doubt, its an uphill task. We will map out a joint commercial strategy with the national carrier Sri Lankan by pooling our resources and that should make it viable," he said.

Gunawardena said that SriLankan and Mihin Air could exchange passengers on selected destinations that could result in the cabin factor increasing upto between 80 and 90 per cent.

He blamed the Sri Lankan-Emirates joint management for failing to cooperate with Mihin and trying to undermine it. "They were totally opposed to the advent of Mihin. When we asked for two of their aircraft on a wet lease they opposed it," he said.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/05/31/news1.html

Police find LTTE claymore in public transport bus - Mortuwa

Sri Lanka police personnel on duty at the main bus stand, Moratuwa have found a claymore mine inside a public transport bus around 9.30 pm.

According to the police sources the bomb has been found inside a parcel placed under the rear seat of the bus that completed its trip from Colombo. The bomb has not been armed, but the detonator and few electrical batteries have been found with the bomb, the sources said.

Air Force bomb disposal team defused the bomb, the sources added.

read more,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080530_06

Pak, Lanka trade to be supplemented by FTA

The bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be supplemented under FTA between the two countries which have a great potential.

It was stated by Muhammad Farooq Dadabhoy Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a meeting with the Sri-Lanka Trade Delegation at Federation House here, says FPCCI release on Thursday.

Mr. Dadabhoy further stated that there will be a win- win situation for both the countries under FTA .

The bilateral trade and economic relations could be increased manifold. Presently the trade volume is in favour of Pakistan which is likely to be little balanced through FTA .

He stated that under SAFTA and particularly FTA between the two countries of SAARC region will not only promote bilateral trade but also contribute in promotion of intra-regional trade.

Vice President FPCCI while briefing the trade delegation about the activities of FPCCI suggested for aggressive marketing of Sri-Lankan commodities in Pakistan particularly tea , service sector, tourism and education.

Read more,
http://www.pakistantimes.net/2008/05/30/business2.htm

Defence ministers gather for Asia security dialogue

Singapore - Defence leaders gathered in Singapore on Friday for the largest defence and security dialogue among Asia-Pacific nations aimed at generating "fresh policy thinking and innovative solutions to global challenges."

The 2008 Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's highest concentration of policy-makers involved in regional security with 27 delegations represented.

Since the inaugural event in 2002, the dialogue organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has expanded as a venue for diplomatic leaders from Europe and the United States.

The meeting officially opens Friday afternoon with a keynote speech from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong,

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates was scheduled to address the participants on Saturday and is likely to discuss the impact of the devastating earthquake in China and cyclone in Myanmar.

Read more,
http://www.topnews.in/law/defence-ministers-gather-asia-security-dialogue

Troops capture LTTE main supply base "Munnagam Base" - Mullaittivu

Troops engaged in offensive operation in Wanni front have captured LTTE main supply and administration base known as "Munnagam Base" located in general area north of Janakapura this morning, May 29.

The said LTTE base which comprising well fortified building complex is used as the centralized location to distribute war materials for terror war fronts, sources said.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080529_10

Twenty LTTE Artillery Shells Kill Six & Injure Twenty Including Catholic Priest

TWENTY ARTILLERY SHELLS fired by Tiger terrorists from their bases in POONERYN early this morning (29), as Army and Naval troops fought a sea battle against a pocket of Tiger boats sailing towards KERATHIVU island, MANDATHIVU, KOLOMBUTHURAI in JAFFNA for an assault, fell on the town area of JAFFNA killing six civilians and injuring twenty more including two children and a pastor who were fast asleep.

Nine seriously injured civilians were to undergo surgery at JAFFNA Teaching Hospital at any moment upon medical advice.

Tiger terrorists, unable to resist the military thrust offered by serving Army and Naval troops on the islet, lost four of their boats as a result of the heavy fire directed by the Army. Confirmed reports said eight Tiger terrorists died and many, including LTTE’s operations commander and his deputy were injured as a result of the resistance.

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=13605
Photos,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=13605

3 LTTE boats destroyed, 15 killed in Army-Navy counter attacks- Jaffna

Army and Navy troops deployed at the Chiraththivu islet, Jaffna sprung an ambush killing at least 15 terrorists as troops claimed to have thwarted a pre-dawn LTTE infiltration attempt at the combined military detachment located between the Jaffna mainland and the Mandathivu island today (May 29).

One soldier was killed while another 2 suffered injuries in this incident. Two navy sailors and an army soldier reported missing in action, military sources added.

Later troops also have reportedly repulsed a second wave of offensive launched by LTTE in six boats towards the islet from non-liberated Ponneryn area, as sources said 3 LTTE boats destroyed and another heavily damaged and sunk in the shallow waters at around 2a.m. Troops have also mounted heavy artillery attacks towards the fleeing terrorists as enemy fatalities were expected to soar, military source said.

Chiraththivu is a small islet located in close proximity of the Jaffna- Mandathivu causeway.

Security Forces are now engaged in search operations in the area, while a military official said that efforts are been made to recover another LTTE boat partially sunk in the shallow waters off the Chiraththivu islet.

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080529_07

Pre-dawn Navy Ambush captures Two LTTE Boats smuggling Fuel worth of Rs. 400.000/= off Ussimukanthurai in Mannar

Naval troops ambushed and captured two LTTE boats smuggling fuel worth of Rs. 400,000/= off Ussimukanthurai in Mannar today morning (29 May 2008) around 3.30 a.m.

The captured LTTE boats were engaged on a run of smuggling fuel for the terror outfit. The LTTE cadres manning the boats have fallen overboard and are presumed dead.

Extracted from,
http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=829